[DeTomaso] Pony Express Accident - Injuries but both driver and navigator doing well

[Mad Dog Antenucci]

If you race you never like to hear about injuries but it goes with the territory...This last weekend at the Pony Express there was a bad accident on course. The good news is while there were injuries both driver and navigator are both doing well.
   
  The veteran ex-Winston Cup Ford race car team that crashed at the Pony Express this last weekend were running in the Super Sport (160-200 MPH) Division.  Some of you probably know or have talked to both the driver and navigator (Greg & Don) or at least are familiar with their red and white #9 Coors race car. They're both great guys and competitors. They're run at Silver State and the Pony Express several times in the past and both have allot of open track experience as well.  
   
  There's several stories regarding what happened making the rounds but it appears they were on course and took a sweeper too late and then may have hit a wet spot on the shoulder and then went off course and airborne.  While the road was reported to be dry by the time the cars started running there was at least some wet spots on the course drivers were all warned about before the cars started. And yes, they were running Goodyear race gumballs. 
   
  In the ensuing moments after the crash there was enough force to pull both their helmets and restraints OFF in the crash. At that point they lost consciousness. Their dry sump oil reservoir tank ruptured and Greg got some  facial and hand burns from hot oil. Greg also has allot of bruising. Greg and Don were airlifted to Reno Trauma Center after initial on scene emergency response but they are now reported to be home and doing well. 
   
  Mike Borders reported that Don is reported to need a longer recovery time then Greg.  In Reno they made a  'tortoise shell' immobilizer cast for Don's back. There is a compression fracture  of the disk located around  T12.  This will heal in time....Junior Wilson had a similar injury when we were at Silver State in '97 and he crashed and he totally recovered from his compression fractures although his ankle injuries took longer to recover... Already both Don and Greg are already planning their ORR race schedule next year. Gotta love their race spirit!  
   
  Capt Craig of Fire & Rescue were on the scene right away, Flight for Life worked, communications worked, emergency EMT and paramedics all did their job reportedly well and the cars roll cage was unscathed undoubtedly saving both their lives. 
   
    


Mad Dawg Antenucci 
Team Pantera Racing 
  The 1st & still the only vintage race team in open road racing 
www.teampanteraracing.com